To the Minister for  Education | Environment | Health | Housing | Olympics | Fisheries & Ports | Roads | Small Business | Sport & Recreation | Sydney Water | Transport | Land & Water Conservation | 

To the Minister for Education:
Could you please tell us:
1.  what additional school facilities will be provided to cope with the increased population in the Rhodes Peninsula, under REP29 (and taking into account the population increases to result from the Liberty Grove, Millennium Waters, Newington and AGL developments)?
2.  when are those facilities scheduled to be provided and at what cost?
3.  will the provision of those facilities reduce open space within existing schools?
4.  will those facilities be within walking distance for primary students?
5.  how will primary students be able to get to those facilities given the likely increases in traffic volumes on Homebush Bay Drive and Concord Road and how will their safety be ensured?
6.  will those facilities be within walking distance of a railway station with direct service from Rhodes for Secondary students?

To the Minister for the Environment:
Could you please tell us:
1. how will the 5 threatened species scheduled under the NSW NPWS Act and the 27 species of migratory birds afforded protection under the JAMBA and CAMBA treaties be protected during remediation and construction and from the effects of light, noise, sewerage, and vehicle emissions in the future, particularly when considered together with the impacts of the Olympic Precinct, Millennium Waters, Newington and Liberty Grove?
2. how will the marine life, their breeding grounds, mangroves, and seagrasses of the Parramatta River be protected from waterborne dioxin, heavy metals, and PCB's during remediation and construction and continuing or increased levels of sewerage pollution when the Rhodes Peninsula redevelopment, Millennium Waters, Newington and Liberty Grove are completed?
3.    why was no EIS prepared for the proposed remediation and redevelopment before REP 29 was gazetted
4. Whether Waterways issued Part 3A permits, under Section 22 of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act,
for works within 40 metres of waterbodies within this area of Sydney Harbour and whether the works on the Orica site are in compliance with those permits.
5. why has the NSW government not implemented its policy of Riparian Protection Zones in relation to the Rhodes Peninsula foreshore, particularly having regard to the environmental sensitivity of the surrounding areas including the Bicentennial Park and Newington Wetlands?

To the Minister for Health:
Could you please tell us:
1. is the Minister aware of the reports on Channel 7 on Tuesday 1 August in relation to chromosomal damage to workers on the Olympic site and resident’s of Melrose Park (see http://entertainment.seven.com.au/frame.asp?content=/Channel7/ShowPage.asp?pageId=349894  ) and Greenpeace’s call for “the Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Health Department to undertake a comprehensive programme of health and environmental surveys to determine the exact nature and extent of the problem” (see http://www.greenpeace.org.au/pr_details.php3?site_id=8&news_id=75  )?
2. what is the safe level of exposure to inhaled dioxins ?
3. what are the risks to public health of having large scale remediation of dioxin (including 2,3,7,8) and PCB contaminated land within 500 metres of an existing residential population, particularly in view of the allegations made by residents of Melrose Park during the recent remediation of Newington?
4. what are the risks to health of workers on a site of a large scale remediation of dioxin (including 2,3,7,8) and PCB contaminated land ?
5. what steps will the Minister be taking to ensure that risks to health of workers and local residents are minimized during the proposed remediation of the former Union Carbide and Allied Feeds sites and the adjoining riverbed? 
6. is the Minister aware of research indicating that dioxins re-enter the food chain?
7. what are the risks to public health of eating seafood from or being immersed in water containing dioxins (including 2,3,7,8) and PCB’s?
8. what steps will the Minister be taking to ensure that risks to health of eaters of seafood from the Parramatta River and recreational users of the River including from 1st Yaralla Sea Scouts, Concord & Ryde Sailing Club, waterskiers, and users of Person Water Craft (jetskis) are minimized during the proposed remediation of the former Union Carbide and Allied Feeds sites and the adjoining riverbed?2. what are the desirable levels of sewerage pollution of waterways adjacent to large high density populations?
9.   what are the risks to public health associated with putting a resident population of over 6,000 within 500 metres of Homebush Bay, given the current levels of sewerage pollution that occurs within the Bay, said by the EPA to be as follows, particularly when almost all open space fro the proposed redevelopment is along the foreshore?

10. what investigation has the Minister done to ensure that the proposed methods of remediation of the abovementioned sites do not pose a greater risk to public health than leaving the sites in their current state
11. what expansion is planned for Concord Hospital to enable it to cope with the increased population and visitors arising from the combined effects of the Rhodes Peninsula, AGL, Dulux, Newington, Millennium Waters and other developments in it’s catchment?
12. when will those works be completed and at what cost?

To the Minister for Housing:
Could you please tell us:
1. how has the Minister satisfied themselves that SREP29 is an appropriate plan for the provision of housing on the Rhodes Peninsula particularly when considered together with the impacts of the other proposals in the area including Millennium Waters (Western shores of Homebush Bay), AGL, Arnotts, Liberty Grove, Newington, Shepherds Bay (Ryde), Broadoak Waters (Ermington), and Dulux and having regard to the provision of appropriate facilities for both new and existing residents including: 
a) transport, 
b) hospitals,
c) primary schools,
d) high schools,
e) TAFE,
f) pre-schools,
g) before and after school care
h) libraries,
i) traffic access without unreasonable delays,
j) active recreation facilities, including rugby (2 codes), soccer, netball, basketball, cycling, tennis, and lawn bowls?
k) appropriate levels of open space having regard to the historical norm of 2.83 hectares per 1,000 persons (in suburbs and LGA’s with significant private open space in backyards) and the increased density on the site,
l) policing,
m) community facilities,
n) public health (having regard to contamination of the land and river bed and levels of sewerage pollution), including baby health centres.
o) stormwater drainage, (having regard to the adjacent Homebush Bay Conservation Area),
p) sewerage, (having regard to the adjacent Homebush Bay Conservation Area),
q) electricity,
r) gas, and
s) water reticulation?
2. how has the Minister satisfied themselves that the appropriate level of facilities will be provided for both existng and new residents having regard to the total increase in population expected in the general area as a result of the cumulative effect of all developments within 5km of the Rhodes Peninsula?
3.    what written submissions did the Minister make in relation to SREP 29 in relation to items 1 a) to s) above (inclusive)?

To the Minister for the Olympics:
Could you please tell us:
1. what steps will be taken to ensure that NSW reputation is not sullied by the failure to host a so called "green games", in that the wetlands in the Olympic Precinct, 5 threatened species within those wetlands and 27 species protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA Treaties are threatened by the proposed remediation of sites covered by REP29 without adequate measures to ensure that dioxins from disturbed sediments do not re-enter the food chain and that the environment of the wetlands is not threatened by airborne particles of dioxins and PCB's during remediation and construction?
2. what measures are being taken to ensure that no lesser standards will be applied to remediation of areas adjoining the Olympic precinct than were applied during remediation of the Olympic precinct?
3. what measures are being taken to ensure that the Olympic village site will not be contaminated by airborne dioxin during remediation of sites in REP29 but before sale of the Olympic Village area to end investors?
4. does the Minister believe it is appropriate to promoting the Sydney Olympics as the Green Games in view of claims that Homebush Bay is one of the most polluted waterways in the world?
5. what measures will the Minister take to ensure that the stormwater, sewerage and pollution problems in the Powell's and Haslam's Creek catchments and Homebush Bay will not be a continuing source of embarrassment to NSW in its hosting of the Green Games and welcoming of visitors to the Olympic Precinct?
6. how has the Minister satisfied himself that the density and types of development proposed under REP29, particularly when considered with other development in the area (Newington, Mariner's Cove, Millennium Waters, Liberty Grove do not pose a threat from noise, traffic, pollution, and increased ambient light to the threatened species and migratory birds protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA Treaties which use the Homebush Bay and Newington Wetlands which are under the Minister's control?

To the Minister for for Fisheries & Ports:
Could you please tell us:
1. is the Minister aware of the reports on Channel 7 on Tuesday 1 August in relation to chromosomal damage to workers on the Olympic site and resident's of Melrose Park (see http://entertainment.seven.com.au/frame.asp?content=/Channel7/ShowPage.asp?pageId=349894  ) and Greenpeace's call for "the Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Health Department to undertake a comprehensive programme of health and environmental surveys to determine the exact nature and extent of the problem" (see http://www.greenpeace.org.au/pr_details.php3?site_id=8&news_id=75  )?
2. is the Minister aware of research indicating that dioxins re-enter the food chain?
3. what is the safe level of exposure to ingested dioxins ?
4. what are the risks to public health of eating seafood from or being immersed in water containing dioxins (including 2,3,7,8) and PCB's?
5. what are the risks to recreational and commercial fishers and consumers of seafood from the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour from the proposed large scale remediation of dioxin (including 2,3,7,8) and PCB contaminated land including the former Union Carbide and Allied Feeds sites and part of the riverbed of Homebush Bay?
6. have any doubts as to the efficacy or safety of the proposed remediation been raised by any party, including the CSIRO or any of its employees or consultants?
7. what steps will the Minister be taking to ensure that risks to marine life, sea grass beds, sailors (including from Concord & Ryde Sailing Club), rowers, sea scouts (including from 1st Yaralla Sea Scouts), waterskiers, personal watercraft users, residents of waterfront properties, users of parks and open space adjoining the Parramatta River, particularly at Concord, Rhodes, Homebush Bay, Meadowbank, Ryde and Putney, threatened species scheduled under the NPWS Act and migratory birds protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA treaties and other flora and fauna in the Homebush Bay Conservation area are minimized during the proposed remediation of the former Union Carbide and Allied Feeds sites and, more particularly, the adjoining riverbed? 
8. what investigation has the Minister done to ensure that the proposed methods of remediation of the abovementioned sites, particularly the riverbed of Homebush Bay, do not pose a greater risk to public health than leaving the sites in their current state?
9. has the Minister consulted with commercial fishers and the fish marketing authorities about the possible threats to commercial fishing and public health from the proposed remediation?
10 could the Minister provide details of any maladministration of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act or breaches of that Act or any permits (or their terms or conditions) issued under the Act in relation to the Orica site on the Rhodes Peninsula?
11. when the proposed remediation is complete, will all of the riverbed of Homebush Bay have been remediated to safe levels of dioxins, PCB's and heavy metals, and if not, why not?
12. will the Minister be implementing the Policy of providing a Riparian Protection Zone all a long the foreshores of Homebush Bay, including those within SREP29, and if not why not, particularly given the close proximity to the Homebush Bay Conservation Area under SREP 24 and the threatened species scheduled under the NPWS Act and migratory birds protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA treaties which frequent the Conservation Area?

To the Minister for Roads:
Could you please tell us:
1. has the Minister had forecast the effect on journey times on Concord Road, Homebush Bay Drive and Church Street, Ryde upon completion of the re-development of the Rhodes Peninsula under REP 29?
2. has the Minister ensured that the RTA safety recommendation of a 3 second gap between vehicles will be feasible without undue delay and the effect of compliance with this recommendation on journey times and delays?
3. does the Minister's forecasts take into account the estimated number of shoppers, workers and residents not only in the Rhodes Peninsula, but also in Millennium Waters, Liberty Grove, the Arnotts site, the AGL site, the Dulux site, Newington, Broadoaks (Ermington)and the Shepherds Bay redevelopment?
4. does the Minister's forecast take into account the proposed withdrawal after the Olympics of public transport subsidies to the Olympic precinct?
5. will the Minister ensure that residents of Llewellyn Street on the eastern side of Concord Road are not obliged to turn south from Llewellyn St to head North or to travel over Ryde Bridge heading North and return to enter Llewellyn Street when coming from the South?
6. how does the Minister propose to ensure that there are not excessive delays on Concord Road, Northbound in the afternoon peak period?
7. how does the Minister reconcile the forecast traffic volumes with the RTA's written advices as to the capacity of the Bridge?

To the Minister for Small Business:
Could you please tell us:
1. is the Minister aware of the conclusion in the Rhodes Peninsula Retail Study of February 1999 which was a basis for SREP29 that "it is likely that there will be some changes in retail tenancies when the Rhodes Centre is developed?
2. is the Minister aware that many small businesses have relatively high fixed costs, such as rent, which are not able to be reduced in the short term, and that a fall of up to 11% in turnover, as predicated for Top Ryde when a District centre is developed at Rhodes, could lead to a number of business closures and potential bankruptcies for small business owners in the catchment of the proposed district centre?
3. is the Minster aware that for many small business owners, their main form of retirement savings is in the sale value of the business and that the affected small business owners will therefore likely lose their retirement savings?
4. given that the government is pursuing the redevelopment of the Rhodes Peninsula and that it is also likely that there will be impacts on tenancies in Central Concord, Strathfield, North Strathfield, and Homebush, as well as in the centres of Burwood, Top Ryde and West Ryde what support will be given to the small business people in the affected tenancies in these areas?

To the Minister for Sport & Recreation:
Could you please tell us:
1. what additional facilities for active sports such as soccer, rugby (2 codes), netball, basketball, tennis, lawn bowls and cycling will be provided to cope with the increased population in the Rhodes Peninsula, under REP29 (and also taking into account the population increases to result from the Liberty Grove, Millennium Waters, Newington, Arnotts, Broadoak, Shepherds Bay, Dulux and AGL developments)?
2. when are those facilities scheduled to be provided and at what cost?
3. where are those facilities to be located?
4. will those facilities be within safe walking distance for children and youth living in the REP 29 area, taking into account the nature and volumes of traffic on Concord Rd and Homebush Bay Drive?
5. how will persons without car licences be able to get to those facilities given the likely increases in traffic volumes on Homebush Bay Drive and Concord Road and how will their safety be ensured?
6. on what basis can a density of 900 persons per hectare of open space be justified given the landlocked nature of the area governed by REP29, the lack of any private open space in the form of backyards and the historical norm of 2.83 hectares per 1,000 persons for LGA's and suburbs where there is significant private open space in the form of backyards?
7. why has the Minister not ensured that there are facilites incorporated into the proposed development for aquatic sports such as rowing, sailing, canoeing, kayacking, particularly given that there are no other facilities for these sports on the southern side of the river west of Hen & Chicken Bay, thus depriving the populations of Auburn, Homebush, Newington, Strathfield, North Strathfield, Concord West, and Silverwater of convenient access to these sports.

To the Minster for Sydney Water: 
Could you please tell us:
1. how will the Minister ensure that Sydney Water brings the performance of the South and Western Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer System ("SWSOOSS") up to a standard where the residents of the Rhodes Peninsula (under SREP29), Newington, Liberty Grove, Mariner's Cove (Homebush Bay)and the proposed Millennium Waters developments enjoy the same water quality in Homebush Bay as do residents of the areas surrounding Iron Cove and Hen and Chicken Bay on a timely fashion now that there are already high density residential developments occupied on the foreshores of Homebush Bay?
2. within what timeframe will the performance of the SWSOOSS as measured by no of swimming days available, suspended solids, faecal coliforms, total phosphorous, and total nitrogen in Homebush Bay ("the Homebush Bay Performance") match the performance measured in the same terms in Iron Cove and Hen & Chicken Bay ("the Comparable Performance")?
3. will the Minister be ensuring that the Homebush Bay Performance is as good as the Comparable Performance before retail, commercial or residential occupation of the area governed by SREP29 is allowed?
4. what measures will the Minister be taking having regard to the existence of the Bicentennial Park wetlands, the Newington Wetlands and the Homebush Bay Environmental Conservation Area under SREP24 to ensure the Homebush Bay performance does not threaten the 5 threatened species scheduled under the NPWS Act and the 27 species of migratory birds whose environments are protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA treaties?
5. has the Minister required (or requested the Minister for the Environment to require) Sydney Water to update the Sewerage Overflows Licensing Project Environmental Impact Study relating to the Southern and Western Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer System in view of the gazetting or SREP 29 and the high and medium density developments in the Sydney Harbour REZ end of that system which will have an impact on a significant length of the system to ensure that the priorities identified in SWOOSS are still appropriate?

To the Minister for Transport:
Could you please tell us:
1. what additional bus and rail services and facilities will be provided to cope with the increased population in the Rhodes Peninsula, under REP29 (and taking into account the population increases to result from the Liberty Grove, Millennium Waters, Newington and AGL developments) and to facilitate transport to the proposed retail, commercial and other shopping facilities
2. when are those services and facilities scheduled to be provided and at what cost?
3. what additional services will be provided for school transport given the proposed population increase of over 6,000 people on the Rhodes Peninsula?
4. how will bus timetables be able to be met given the forecast increases in vehicular traffic on Concord Road?
5. will there be reductions in services down the main Northern line South of Epping as a result of the planned Parramatta/Epping/Chatswood link?
6. can the Minister confirm that letters have been sent to local resident(s) advising that some land required for the duplication of the Main Northern Line between North Strathfield and Meadowbank will not now be required?
7. what will be the effect on commuters from Concord West, North Strathfield and Strathfield of the forecast increase in usage of trains at Rhodes?

To the Minister for Land & Water Conservation:
Could you please tell us:
1. how will the marine life, their breeding grounds, mangroves, and seagrasses of the Parramatta River be protected from waterborne dioxin, heavy metals, and PCB's during remediation and construction and continuing or increased levels of sewerage pollution when the Rhodes Peninsula redevelopment, Millennium Waters, Newington and Liberty Grove are completed?
2. why was no EIS prepared for the proposed remediation and redevelopment before REP 29 was gazetted?
3. Whether Waterways issued Part 3A permits, under Section 22 of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act, for works within 40 metres of waterbodies within this area of Sydney Harbour and whether the works on the Orica site are in compliance with those permits?
4. why has the NSW government not implemented its policy of Riparian Protection Zones in relation to the Rhodes Peninsula foreshore, and the proposed Millennium Waters (western shore of Homebush Bay), particularly having regard to the environmental sensitivity of the surrounding areas including the Bicentennial Park and Newington Wetlands and the inclusion of Homebush Bay as an Environmental Conservation Zone in SREP24?
5. has the NSW government implemented its policy of Riparian Protection Zones in relation to the Broadoaks development in Ermington?
6. what is the history over the last 3 years of the NSW government's implementation of its policy of imposing Riparian Protection Zones on developments near (say within 100 metres of) environmentally sensitive areas including mangroves, wetlands, creeks, and river and is the policy applied equally to government controlled (whether through interposed holding companies or otherwise) and privately owned lands?